New Challenges and New Tools for Congress
by Bradford Fitch
on October 13, 2011
"The Internet changed everything." This phrase is prevalent in our society, whether it refers to commerce, personal relationships, or even our democratic processes. The system and paradigm built over the years for citizens to interact with Members of Congress is not immune to this change.
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Recess Isn't Vacation
by Bradford Fitch
on September 09, 2011
Part of the expanded mission of CMF through the Partnership for a More Perfect Union is to build a better understanding of how Congress works in the public mind. That job gets a little harder when solid mainstream news organizations perpetuate misperceptions about how Congress works. The Washington Post recently published a column on congressional recesses, which engendered this Letter to the Editor from CMF's President and CEO, Bradford Fitch.
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Social Media Requires New Metrics for Measuring Success
by Bradford Fitch
on August 19, 2011
I'll admit it, I was a bit slow to "get" social media. Intellectually, I understood the viral and interconnected nature of the media. But I was schooled in mainstream media. When I started in radio we still spun records and spliced tape with a razor blade. I read the articles and heard the mantra: it's not simply the number of your followers that count on Twitter, but who is following you, and how much influence they have. This lesson hit home for me during a recent trip to San Francisco.
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New Site Offers Tools, Resources to Citizens & Congress
Normally the launching of a new website wouldn't warrant a lot of heralding – websites get launched every day. The Congressional Management Foundation's new website, CongressFoundation.org, is a bit different. More than a new online resource, CongressFoundation.org represents the expanding mission of CMF into some exciting new areas.
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A #Townhall for a New Age
When used correctly, online communications can be remarkably effective in fostering increased citizen engagement with politics and policy. Through our own research, we have found that online town hall meetings have the potential to be a powerful tool for strengthening the relationship between Members and their constituents.
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By the Numbers: The 112th Congress Gold Mouse Project
by administrator
on June 14, 2011
Our Gold Mouse evaluations commence today! Our evaluators are beginning the process of reviewing the websites of Congress in order to determine which are deserving of the Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Mouse Awards. This is a substantial undertaking which allows us to accurately track and analyze how Congress connects to citizens online. Just how big is it? To give you an idea, we present an estimate of the 112th Congress Gold Mouse Project by the numbers:
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The Quick Fix: Improve Your Website Easily
With one week until Gold Mouse evaluations commence, many congressional offices are wondering what they can do to improve their website quickly. Here are some ways to make it better fast!
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112th Congress Gold Mouse Evaluations Begin on June 15!
by administrator
on May 26, 2011
Offices now have an extra 2 weeks to finish any last minute changes to their websites. Evaluations will begin June 15! To help you prepare, we have compiled an extensive FAQ.
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Inside the Hill: Who Handles Online Communications
In the seventh installment of 'Inside the Hill', congressional staff and Congressman Honda discuss how they use and manage online communications.
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citizen engagement, constituents, democrats, facebook, house, Inside the Hill, republicans, senate, social media, standards, twitter, YouTube
How to Win a Congressional Website Award: Solid Issue Information
by Bradford Fitch
on May 12, 2011
The Congressional Management Foundation will commence our seventh round of analyzing and grading more than 600 congressional personal, committee, and leadership office websites on June 1. The results will be released in October, with the Gold Mouse Awards Ceremony in November. We recognize that Members of Congress, by their nature, are competitive, which is why we established the Gold Mouse Awards system in 2001. One of the most common questions CMF gets is: 'What is the most important factor for winning a Gold Mouse Award?'
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